Hub for Equal Representation in the Economy

Launched in 2022, the Hub for Equal Representation in the economy (H.E.R.) is dedicated to improving the representation of women at work.

Around the world, less than 50% of women are active participants in the labour market (ILO, 2022) and there are over 370 million women and girls living in extreme poverty (UN Women, 2025). Those that do work, globally earn 24 per cent less than men (Oxfam, 2026). Yet, the productivity of the average female worker is higher than that of the average male worker (Bandiera et al, 2023). Therefore, increasing the representation and leadership of women in the labour market is both a matter of equity and efficiency.

To contribute to this effort, the Hub's work is structured around two core pillars:

Generating world leading research on gender inequality. At the Hub, we believe that knowledge should be the main driver of actions. Our approach combines testing innovative solutions and conducting rigorous analysis to provide robust evidence that informs policy decisions on driving gender equality at scale. Why do women's careers stagnate when children arrive, while men continue to thrive? What is the cost of excluding talented women from the labour market? These are some of the questions the Hub's researchers are addressing through a wide range of projects.

Disrupting the pipeline in the economics profession. The Hub intends to serve as an agenda-setting platform for the representation of women (and minorities) in the field. By promoting and supporting access to leadership positions for women in the economics profession, alongside initiatives that seek to feed the pipeline, the Hub is committed to increasing representation and amplifying the future voices of gender research.

H.E.R. is funded by the Gates foundation (with previous funds from Pivotal Ventures) and hosted by STICERD at the London School of Economics and Political Science. It is co-directed by Professors Oriana Bandiera and Camille Landais, and Nina Roussille.